Fernandez, wearing the captain’s armband, netted the only goal of the game on Thursday evening as we overcame London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

The result reasserted our position inside the Premier League top four with eight matches to play. Finish there and Champions League football will return to Stamford Bridge next season.

That ambition, coupled with ending our Conference League campaign with silverware, is firmly in the mind of the Blues players, as Fernandez explained.

‘Our objective is to finish in the top four or top five, to qualify for the Champions League,' the 24-year-old said. ‘We also want to win the Conference League and are on the way to achieving that.

‘We’ll take each game as it comes and work as hard as possible during the week so we’re at our best in every game.’

Blues head coach Enzo Maresca highlighted the development in Fernandez's game before and after our victory over Tottenham – and the Argentine international's well-taken goal was his sixth of the campaign.

'The cross from Cole was incredible,' Fernandez reflected. 'I got myself into that position in the box, and it's something I had been working on in training during the week, as the coach likes me getting into that position. I was there and luckily was able to score.'

Fernandez was named player of the match for his display on Thursday evening as he became just the third Blues midfielder – behind Roberto Di Matteo and Gus Poyet – to score home and away against Tottenham in the same season.

'I love the derbies,' he said with a smile. 'I love playing in this type of game. I’m so happy I was able to score as well as scoring at Tottenham’s stadium too.

'I have a little museum at home with some things like this [his player of the match award]. I have a few others like this from this season, so it’ll go there along with some other awards I’ve won during my career.'

Blues supporters will hope it's far from the last exhibit to enter the Fernandez museum this season.